SEXY SOCKS.....

[Kumiko21]

I want to start to knit a pair of socks. I have never done it before but everything that i have been reading online says that is easy and enjoyable. I still have a few questions though. IF there are any UBER useful links please include them......i really want your personal opinion though please biggrin

1) Is it better/easier to use circular or double pointed needles? Does it matter?

2) What is the best kind of yarn to use for socks?  

[Yousorrymon]

If I could knit socks I would. I always need more socks. They just dissapear...  

[Peppermint Elf]

Kumiko21

I want to start to knit a pair of socks. I have never done it before but everything that i have been reading online says that is easy and enjoyable. I still have a few questions though. IF there are any UBER useful links please include them......i really want your personal opinion though please biggrin

1) Is it better/easier to use circular or double pointed needles? Does it matter?

2) What is the best kind of yarn to use for socks?

I've only knit a few socks, but I think that sport weight or less (fingering/sock/lace weight) is best for socks. Everything bigger is hard to fit into your shoes. sweatdrop

I use DPNs to knit socks... mostly because I haven't figured out the magic loop method. I'm told that socks knit up faster if you use the 2 socks at once or magic loop method. sweatdrop I also prefer metal DPNs to bamboo.

This is all just my own preferences. 3nodding  

[Kumiko21]

What is the "magic loop method"??  

[Zahra Ovaci]

Ha! What a coincidence. As I'm sitting here right now, I've got a toe-up dress sock (sweetie's birthday gift) sitting right next to me on my needles.

I have lot of sock links on my blog, but here's my absolute favorite for the absolute beginner:

Socks 101

This page takes you step-by-step through the sock making progress. She does hers cuff-down, with a flap-and-gusset heel, on 4 DPNs (three to hold the knitting, one to knit with). The only thing I would change is that if you like DPNs, it's easier in my opinion to use 5 than 4 (four to hold the knitting, one to knit with). To convert her instructions to 5 DPNs, you just split the stitches on her long DPN onto two smaller ones. If you don't like DPNs, you can use two circular needles, or one super long one (magic loop).

You can use any size yarn to make socks, but worsted and smaller is more common. I've done boot socks on size 3 needles with worsted yarn, and dress socks on size 0 needles with light fingering weight, and a bunch inbetween. You can do tow-up or cuff-down or sideways or by starting at both ends if you like smile Socks are adaptable! And if you don't happen to fancy the flap-and-gusset heel, here's a good resource on various heels and toes.  

[Kumiko21]

Wow thanks for the input!!! If anyone has anything else to tell me let me know. I have finals coming up this next week so after finals i will probably go and invest in some sock making items. I will keep posting on how it is going becuase someone else might be doing the same thing and if i run into the same problems they run into it might be a nice refrence  

[julyrose]

Since your thread is sexy socks, if I remember correctly, knitty's website had instructions for knitting some fish-net thigh-highs.

I don't knit, but I crocheted some ankle high socks in a mesh pattern. I am into instant gratification, so I used Caron's Simply Soft. They are too think for most shoes, but I can wear them with my tennies, or wear them as slipper socks.  

[Kumiko21]

ha ha ha fish net would be hot!  

[sparklingbutterfly]

self stripey socks are good and there are fish nets in the stich and b***h though i'm unsure which one! redface  

[julyrose]

Hmmmm..... stripey fishnets anyone?  

[julyrose]

Here is the link for the fishnets - I hope it is OK to post it.

http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer04/PATTlolita.html  

[DecemberFlower]

I'm quite fond of this pattern. I'm working on a pair right now.

http://pepperknit.com/blog/archives/344

It's not really for sock beginners, though, since the pattern more or less assumes you know how to do short-row toes and heels. Which I didn't notice when starting the pattern. sweatdrop  

[Kumiko21]

those look very nice!!!  

[AriRashkae]

I have not done socks yet (mostly due to lack of yarn - to be corrected right after this post mrgreen ) but I have seen DPn and 2 circulars done. Thank you, Knitty Gritty!

2 circular looks easier to me. I have not seen any instructions for magic loop, so I have no clue how easy/hard it looks to be.

Personal recommendation: Go with whatever method the pattern you want to try recommends at least once, and then adapt it to your preferred method if needed. (International Socks of Doom! Yeah!)